MEXICO SIGNS ACTA AGAINST WILL OF MEXICAN SENATE

MEXICO SIGNS ACTA AGAINST WILL OF MEXICAN SENATE

UPDATE 7-18-2012 by Milenio / Vanguardia

Mexican legislators of all three main parties, PRI, PAN, and PRD, condemned Felipe Claderón’s administration for continuing ACTA negotiations. According to the legislators, the Executive branch failed to inform the congress of the imminent signing of an International Treaty that directly affects the Mexican Constitution and its guarantees. They said Calderon’s administration was being authoritarian in its last days in power.

Fuerthermore, the legislators affirm ACTA will limit the freedom of speech that is guaranteed in the Mexican Constitution, will likely censor Internet content, and put at risk creativity and legitimate commerce.

The ambassador of Mexico to Japan, Claude Heller, signed today the controversial ACTA agreement after the Mexican Senate had told President CalderónNOT to continue with its negotiations. Parts of ACTA go in direct conflict with the Mexican constitution that guarantees freedom of speech. Furthermore, the agreement will have to be ratified by the Mexican Congreso de la Unión and will likely face fierced opposition. Mexico, as the U.S., is a republic and all bills affecting the mandate of the Constitution have to be ratified by both the upper and lower houses of Congress in order to become laws.